Monday, February 15, 2016

THE WISDOM OF SILENCE

In one of Aesop’s Fables, a donkey walking through the woods
finds the skin of a lion. Hunters had killed the lion & left the skin to
dry in the sun. The donkey put on the lion’s skin & was delighted to
discover that all the other animals were terrified of him & ran away when
he appeared.

Rejoicing in his newfound respect, the donkey brayed his
happiness - only to give himself away by his voice. The moral of the fable was
clear: fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.

In our day of social broadcasting it seems that anyone can
become famous by disclosing every embarrassing part of his life to the world on
TV or the Internet. Yet what is truly gained by such “entertainment”?

People may sit at home & laugh at the folly of those who
hold nothing back, but they are diminished in the process. This produces a
corrosive effect because it encourages people to share more & more when
they have less & less to offer.

Rather than being compelled to tell everyone we meet
everything, we should remember that one of wisdom’s best qualities is the
ability to hold the tongue.

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in
till afterwards.” - Pro 29:11.